Vermont’s Planned Parenthood branch is declining to endorse a candidate in this year’s gubernatorial race, saying both incumbent Gov. Phil Scott and Democrat Christine Hallquist would actively work to champion women’s reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood announced last week that it would not be picking a favorite in the governor’s race, a move that surprised Hallquist, whose campaign said Scott had flip-flopped on support for abortion rights.
Lucy Leriche, the vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said Wednesday that she expects the organization would be able to work well with either candidate’s administration.
“It’s an embarrassment of riches. We’re very lucky to have two candidates who are solidly in our corner,” Leriche said.
“No matter who wins in November, as far as Planned Parenthood is concerned, we are in a very good position to protect women’s reproductive rights in the state of Vermont with either of these candidates, which is why we chose to just be neutral,” Leriche said.
Planned Parenthood’s decision to stay neutral in the race marks a sharp turn from its position in 2016, when the organization came out strongly against Scott and spent $458,000 on behalf his Democratic opponent, Sue Minter.
In the last election cycle, the Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund, funded largely by the Democratic Governor’s Association, spent heavily on television advertisements that portrayed Scott as an opponent of abortion rights.
Scott has had longstanding pro-choice views, but in the past, has said he supports requirements for parental notification for minors seeking abortions, and restrictions on late-term, partial-birth abortions.
Leriche said while he was a state senator, Scott made some statements and cast some votes “that gave people concern that he might be inclined to limit access to abortion.”
But his time in office hasn’t given Planned Parenthood reservations about him. Responding to Planned Parenthood’s survey this year, Scott told Planned Parenthood he doesn’t support any restrictions on abortion access.
Both Scott and Hallquist scored 100 percent on the survey.
“Since I have been in this role I have been working with the Scott administration on public policy and have found them to be quite helpful, particularly as we have been facing daily attacks from the federal level,” Leriche said.
Among other things, she said Scott has fought efforts at the federal level to restrict Planned Parenthood’s funding. There have also been concerns the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the landmark ruling, Roe vs. Wade.
Sharon Toburg, the treasurer for the Vermont Right to Life Political Committee, an organization that advocates for pro-life policies, said she was surprised Planned Parenthood didn’t make an endorsement this year, given its efforts to actively oppose the governor in 2016.
“I think it goes to show that what we said at the time is true: that the ads they ran were really a misrepresentation of Phil Scott and his position,” Toburg said.
“Phil Scott has always been a pro-choice candidate and a pro-choice legislator. So I was really surprised two years ago that they spent such a huge amount of money on a candidate who took a pro-choice position.”
Hallquist was surprised she didn’t receive Planned Parenthood’s endorsement, according to her campaign manager, Cameron Russell.
“I’m not sure exactly what was the foundation of Planned Parenthoods’ decision, but I do think it’s pretty clear which candidate in this race has the record of standing for women’s rights and access to care,” Russell said. “There’s been no evolution or any flip flopping on the issue from Christine.”
Russell noted Hallquist’s first formal endorsement came from a reproductive rights organization, #VOTEPROCHOICE, and pointed out Scott’s decision to veto paid family leave legislation.
“I don’t think you can possibly argue that vetoing family leave is supporting women and families,” he said.
Part of the reason Planned Parenthood declined to endorse in the gubernatorial race is because it wants to focus its financial resources on local races, according to Leriche.
Particularly in races for seats in the Vermont House, there is competition between candidates who are champions for reproductive rights and those who are not, she said.